The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-09-07
A NIGHT IN OUR PRISON.
A Partially Imaginative Picture Be
fore and After ssTapS.,,


fore and After 'sTaps.''
How few there are whose curiosity leads
them to visit the great prisons of this cOun-
try, who are impressed with the deep sol
emnity of their gloomy precincts, and the
dull, inanimate manner of their inmates as
they silently shuttle about in the discharge
of their various duties. ana view them
otherwise than collectively, failing to as
sign to each the different characteristics,
mental and physical, which distinguishes
them; or that all are characterized by this
depressed and listless air, as though they
had built bridge over the chasm that sepa-
rated them from the outside world. and
were mentally crossing it, aid did not think
it necessary to brighten up or be inter
ested until they crossed it in reality. But
few who have ever contemplated this mel
anchOly scene of the workshop, have had
the opportunity of following the unfortun-
nate prisoner to his cell at the close of day.
Here, as the darkening shadows of night
steal into the little tOmbs ranged tier on
tier that serve in this case as cells for the
living. is the prisoners day; here he fOrgets
the sOul-depressing drudgery which, to his
tastes, uncOngenial. gives room for the
gloomy retrOSpectiOn, and the still glOOmier
prospect. His grief at being condemned
to so hard fate, his remorse of the past,
; and his fear of the future. all robbing hin,
of peace during consciousness and plunder-
ing him of rest during slumber. Here,
after dispatching his evening meal, he
seizes his favOrite book, and is soon stroll
ing through elegant drawing rooms, and
fragrant Conservatives, or travelling in Eu-
rope. or exploring in Africa, or analyZing
. chemicals, building machinery, or working
out difficult problems in mathematics; while
. some are engaged i'll carving, saving, nail
ing-making those little mementOes.
so ingenious, so cleverly and skillfuI-
ly, and with such untiring patience,
= to send to some one who claims the greater
part of his thoughts, and who in turn ESQ
busted with the cares of the world, or the
whlrls of society, of which they form a
part) has never expended thought on the
poor fellow who has worked so patiently
and long to send the little keepsake, hoping
this little link would keep him in the men,
:. DRY of those in the world he has lost.
And now the CHEEKY pOstman makes his
, rounds with the little miSsives that tell the
fortunate prisoner that he at least is not
buried and however sad the tidings they
convey, they have wonderfully cheering
effect. Some tell of sickness and some of
death, some of poverty, distress and grief.
while some contain the curt intelligence
from their lawyer to the effect that more
''sOap" is needed to grease the wheels of
justice, as they are working very slowly,
and are squeaking wOefully.
And so the shadows fall, deeper and
deeper. Come night! come darkness! for
you cannot come too soon, or stay too long;
come struggling shadows through the barred
doors of the narrow cells and ye who think
iniQuity therein, do it at least with the light
shut out.
The lights in the cells are all out, aud
silence reigns in the silent house except
when broken by the shrill squeal of a
frightened rat. as he scampers wildly over
the stone tagging Of the corridor; or the
wild cry of some sleeping prisoner as the
phantom of some fearful nightmare passes
fitfully over his fevered brain and dSturbs
his restless Slumber. Heavier and heavier
falls the gloom, and the soft tread of the
night watch as he passes on his hourly
rounds is the only sound that breaks the
grave-like silence, and soon the echOs
die away and the silence is profound.
Oh! what history for future generations
to contemplate, and reflect OH how civiliza-
ton and enlightenment walked hand in
hand with barbarism and predjudice. Oh!
if men only knew whom they kill when
they strike the deadly blow, OF if they only